Realty One

Friday, January 13, 2017

DURANT TRADED TO MONTREAL

I've just been informed Darian Durant has been traded to the Montreal Alouettes for a pair of draft picks. The draft picks are reportedly a 4th round pick in 2017 and a conditional 2nd round pick in 2018.

The Darian Durant Era in Saskatchewan is over.

Here's the news release from the Alouettes:

Montreal, January 13, 2017 – The Montreal Alouettes announced on Friday that the club has acquired veteran quarterback Darian Durant from the Saskatchewan Roughriders in exchange for Montreal's fourth round pick (32nd overall, acquired from Winnipeg) in the 2017 CFL Canadian Draft as well as a 2018 conditional draft pick.

Durant (5'11", 214 lbs.), an 11-season CFL veteran, started his career with the Roughriders in 2006 and was the backup quarterback when the team won the Grey Cup in 2007. He was the team's starting pivot when the Roughriders hoisted the trophy once more in 2013, in front of their fans in Regina.

In 155 career-games, including 111 as the starting quarterback, the 34-year-old completed 2,186 of his 3,519 passes, amassing 28,136 yards, while throwing 149 touchdown passes. He currently stands 16th all-time in the CFL for career passing yards. He also carried the ball on 369 occasions throughout his career, cumulating 2,888 yards and scoring 21 rushing majors along the way. He has a 5-1 record as a starting quarterback in playoff games.

"We are more than pleased to be able to acquire a quarterback of the caliber of Darian Durant and we are confident that we can reach a new agreement with him," declared Alouettes General Manager Kavis Reed. "As we stated from the get go, our intention was to acquire a veteran quarterback and we just obtained a player who continues to perform at a high level, which will make him the ideal role model for our young quarterbacks."

Last season, the Florence, SC native amassed 3,468 yards as he completed 290 of his 431 passes, while throwing 14 touchdown passes. He also scored five rushing touchdowns, as he carried the ball 51 times for gains of 274 yards.

The former University of North Carolina Tar Heel also led the Riders to the Grey Cup game in 2009 and 2010. Both times, the team was defeated by the Alouettes. He was also named a West Division All-Star in 2009 and 2013.

**Riders V.P. of Football and Head Coach Chris Jones will meet with the media at 9:00 am at Mosaic Staidum.

I truly believe that on a team with talent DD can still be successful. Finding a starting QB when you have all the resources available to you (see Cleveland Browns) proves to be extremely difficult. With no real plan in place to replace DD it's tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The Riders are still my team but I must say I am disappointed in this move and how the whole situation was handled.

All a fan can do now is hope that this staff knows something we do not, otherwise we are in for a few more lean years.i

Well that royally blows!! And we get nothing but training camp fodder in return. The only silver lining to this whole Jones fiasco era is that he and Reynolds will be kicking rocks down the road after they get canned for the Riders dwelling in the basement in 2017. Welcome back to the 80s reign of error. Best of luck to the classy Durant.

I had lost a lot of faith in Chris Jones in 2016. Now 2017 is starting out even worse. Those who work in and around this Coach and GM know that his fuel doesn't come from exercise and good eating. Quite the opposite. I believe Chris Jones is in way over his head and has made a complete mess of just about everything. What's happening right now will be the legacy of Craig Reynolds. His career as a Rider President will live and die with the bloody mess.

If Durant wasn't gonna sign in Regina can we not just agree that jones was a smart man and got something for nothing. Easy to hate but how do we know Durant didn't want out. Maybe he is to blame? I don't know just as well as you don't know. But man you guys let the guy do his job.

Relax, we all knew this was a very real possibility. Let's wait and see what Chris Jones has up his sleeve before we get carried away with the negative stuff. I am disappointed because I like Darian but I feel like he didn't help his cause this past year, as his performances were not stellar. The final game at The old stadium was in my opinion a letdown and I felt like in the closing ceremonies the look on Darian's face was one of acceptance that he very well might not be here in the new year. I wish him all the best in Montreal. 2013 in my mind was the highlight of his career and of my time as a football fan. Hopefully he will make his way back to Saskatchewan as a coach someday.

Well all the best to DD. First class man and I will be cheering for him in Montreal. Interesting we got virtually nothing for him.

2017 Will show if Jones and the accountant from meadow lake know what they are doing or if they are in way over their heads. I hope for the former and now they will really have to answer to the Rider faithful this year.

Calm right down at least for the moment... What has been traded is the "RIGHTS" to negotiate with Darian who is a Free Agent come February. While he MAY sign with Montreal, he is not officially signed to another contract.

Be honest with yourselves... In this league we need a two Quarterback system to survive. If you pay one QB who is 36 $400,000 plus how can you develope a wo QB System... You simply can't.

Let's see what happens.

If Darian left when he was a free agent we would have gotten NOTHING!. This was we got something and a chance to still talk to him when he hits free agency. Yes there is a good and strong chance he will sign with Montreal. We will survive! We will move on...

This is insanity. Durant proved last year he can still perform at a high level. Injuries were also not an issue last year. Now we have no one at the QB position and based on the management's inability to bring anyone in last year why are we to think they can find someone this year? Good luck selling tickets once the novelty of the new stadium wears off because this team sure isn't looking like it is going to be watchable.

Have fun with getting Franklin for the same kind of picks...Durant was becoming a free agent and Franklin still has a year on his contract so you won't be getting Franklin cheap like that for another year.

A fourth round draft pick. You have to be kidding. So Jones obviously figured he wasn't going to get anything if DD became a free agent so this is... his idea of salvaging something? Pretty clear this is Jones final step in making sure the Riders won't be a contender for the rest of the decade. Fire the whole damn front office. Wheres Ken Miller when you need him?

I was a Durant fan but even I could see his limitations even with green colored glasses. Dude never performed and was only clutch when he was challenged. He made a million bucks for doing nothing in 2 years. He rarely got the ball past mid field In the first half last year when healthy. Even a screen pass was usually an adventure. Under throws galore . Rarely healthy. I like the trade. At least they got something as past Feb they were gonna get nothing. Too bad they don't have anyone waiting to replace him but gotta admire the cahones of Jones on this one here's hoping it pans out. Face it rider nation we been without the "old" Darian for years. Get over it guys. Best of luck to you Darian and your new Gm in Montreal.

People if Durant wanted to be here, he would off... Why did he want the guaranteed money, possibly due to the fact of the injuries the last couple of years.. By the way I watched every game he played and he wasn't close to perfect last year.. Jones develop a winning quarter back and these cry babies, will be saying what a decision Reynolds made... Shut up and back the green and white, not a player, they come and go.. I would support Bridge as the starter, and a good oline in front of him.

Disappointed but not surprised. It's all about money. If the Riders really wanted Durant they would have offered more, if Durant really wanted to stay he would have accepted their offer. Everybody is out for themselves. Better to do the trade and get the draft picks, otherwise Durant is free to sign with any team as of Feb 14, and the Riders would get nothing in return. My prediction is they will be forced to sign Kevin Glenn as an insurance policy for this year (oh yeah!) and then they will go after Franklin when he is a free agent in 2018.

I will not be buying anymore Rider merchandise, buying any Rider tickets, or cheering for this team, until Jones and his crew are gone, and yes, that applies even if they win a Grey Cup. I don't blindly cheer for any random teamto win. I cheer for my team, and this is not my team. To be clear, I am putting my fandom on hold, not cancelling it. When this regime is gone, I will proudly wear Green and white again, but not now, and not for a while.

Get over it! He had every intention of leaving before the last season was even done! Will be sittin on the bench collecting a paycheck by the end of next season! Montreal will be a train wreck with Kavis running the show!

Is it possible to get a refund on Season Tickets? As my wife said, Jones is the Donald Trump of the CFL. I couldn't imagine a more embarrassing trade. It is almost as bad as getting two roles of white tape in exchange for a bonafide star player.

I cannot believe DD was traded for 2 low draft picks over 2 years. I have trusted Jones since he came here but unless there is something we don't know (Nichols or Franklin) this is the worst trade in the history of the CFL. If we don't get a proven QB, the complete upper management MUST be fired

Jeez folks ... everyone losing their minds ... DD will always be a Rider great and I hate to see him go but time marches on and football is a business. There is obviously more happening behind the scenes that the average armchair GM doesn't know about. We went all in on 2013 and won. That's the price (well worth it in my opinion). Now to rebuild for the next era. The next Ronnie, Kent, Kerry or DD is out there waiting to be discovered. You can't drive a vehicle forward when your focused on the rear view mirror.

With no movement by either camp, Jones is faced with the reality that DD won't likely be signing before free agency. Kavis stating publicly that he wants to sign a high end veteran QB (borderline tampering) pretty much guarantees DD waits to free agency. Wait til free agency and get zero or trade for anything (which is pretty much a lotto ticket). Why would Montreal give up more? All they are buying is 4 weeks of negotiation rights. Jones did the right thing for the Riders LONG TERM interests and DD did the right thing for him (as he should). No hard feeling to either camp.

I do shake my head at the comments of the trolls and misguided fans ... not gonna buy gear, not supporting the team, peoples lives need to be ruined over this ... intelligent stuff ... let's financially cripple the organization. I was devastated when my favourite player was cut (Bobby Jurasin) but I still cheered for and supported my team. No one individual should be bigger than the team (true in life and football). I wish the best for DD but we need to commit to the rebuild, get behind new players that show promise and move forward. Try being positive ... great new players will step out of the shadows and become the next legends on giant banners outside the stadium.

Given Jones called him mediocre says it all. After that comment we all knew this was inevitable. I guess Jones knows it's better to get something than nothing. Not sure what Jones plan is and I will give him one more year to show his stuff. The Rider Nation just lost a true brother and leader. IMO Montreal just got better and the Riders worse. I would say DD is motivated to be great this year. Sweet revenge would be DD leading Montreal to the promise land while Jones wallows in his own mediocrity and little man syndrome.

The Riders at least got something for a guy who is STILL a free agent! Yes, the guy was the franchise and Ridernation loves him, but he's not the same guy who won us the cup in '13. Durant is injury prone as well! He will be missed, but its time to move on! Jones knows what he's doing! -I would say more than any of these posters who have no clue!... take the emotion out of it and think business! .. GO RIDERS!

What does Jones have in common with John Herrera? Remember him, his claim to fame was, and I Quote, "he almost single handedly ruined the team". Well, Jones has accomplished such before the start of his second season. The Riders need someone in charge that knows something about football, not a numbers guy

All I can say is Jones and company better produce this year and by produce I mean make at least the playoffs or we won't be renewing our season tickets. We have had 5 season tickets for 18 years and can't keep justifying the constant price increase, travel to Regina to watch losing football, new stadium or not. Think its time for the Rider organization to quit taking Rider Nation for granted, For the first time in years not one item of rider merchandise showed up at Christmas and I couldn't tell you the last time I actually purchased something with the Rider logo on it. Heavens the Riders aren't even sending players out to communities this winter other than Bleed Green and the Bullying campaign in the schools.

Durant is an injured plagued QB in the tail end of his career that most likely be able to finish this season. Like others have mentioned, if Durant really wanted to remain a Rider, he would have taken the offer put forth to him, he chose not to.

Here's to hoping Jones and his regime begin to develop and build franchise quarterbacks and not settle for nostalgic emotional rational, but bring in the best and only play the best.

I like Darian, wish him well but glad this story line is over and look forward to see what/who's next in line to lead the green and white.

Everybody jumping off the bandwagon and wanting season ticket refunds don't ever come back! You guys are ridiculous! I hope the Rider Office keeps track of names asking for refunds and never allows them to buy even single tickets ever again. Let the man do his job. See what Jones can do come free agency and trades. If improving the rest of the team by not over-paying Durant is the plan then I'm all for it. Let the young guys compete, solidify a strong o-line, and see what they can do when they aren't getting knocked on their ass every play. A rebuild takes time, we are only one year in. Trust the system.

Worst trade in the CFL ? I dunno , there was the Ricky Ray trade where he promptly won the Argos a Grey Cup and the Esks wandered in the wilderness for a couple of years. I don't know if the Als will win a cup with Durant but the Riders will likely spend another year or 2 floundering without a bona fide starter .

Most of the idiots on here have no concept of what free agency is all about. If there's zero chance of getting him resigned, might as well get something now, rather than nothing (except even more hate) come Feb 14th!He was given a fair offer to re-sign. He didn't!

All the talk about this being a business decision; a good business insures that money keeps flowing in, more money in than out. As is apparent from previous comments, the Riders coffers just took a hit. Signing Mr Durant would have paid for itself. Every other CFL team pays in the range of 350k for a QB and still has money left to pay for a good Oline so do not give me that argument.As for the press conference and the Riders only winning five games with Durant, they also only won five games with Chris Jones and his system of revolving door players. They only won five games with McAdoo, the offensive coordinator. They only won five games with the Oline, who allowed Durant to be sacked 41 times. They only won five games with an atrocious defence even though Jones is apparently a "defensive guru"!? Suddenly, every loss was Durant's fault. Nice of Jones to throw Durant under the bus. The last time a coach did that, Marshall, he was fired. Jones has no class and no football knowledge.Thank you, Darian Durant. You, sir, are a class act and a hell of a QB.

We are officially screwed! What's the contingency plan? We cut ties with an elite QB, who has plenty of tread on the tires and his best years are ahead of him, so long as we have an O line that can protect him, and we have no legitimate option for a starting QB! F'ing BRUTAL decision. I've never been a fair weather fan and I've even refrained from armchair QB'ing the team, giving coaches the benefit of the doubt when tough decisions had to be made, by this isn't a tough decision, it's a STUPID decision!!! We move into a new stadium, without our elite QB, and no hope of becoming a winner soon, without a proven QB. I'm really thinking of not renewing my overpriced season's tickets for some time, because Jones isn't going to build a winner here anything me soon . . . and I was originally a fan of his. Get ready for a season of less than 5 wins, and no hope at QB for a very long time, unless the Als somehow don't manage to sign DD, and thisnis just a ploy to get a CDN draft pick and then sign DD here once free agency hits.

I cannot believe some of these comments.As some have said , despite what DD thinks, he does not fit in with the ELITE!!!For some one to suggest Durant was the best ever Rider QB is totally rediculous. He couldn't tie LANCASTER OR AUSTIN'S shoes.!!!!!As I have said before , you don't pay professional athletes for what they did in the past, What has Durant done in the past 3 years, except hobble around & collect a pile of money.There will be a lot of EX FANS WALKING AROUND ON CRUCHES. Wake up folks.The Riders will ultimately become a great surprise to all the JUMPERS.why are people afraid to put their name with their postings on the blogCLAY

Hey dimwits...Durant was leaving town as a free agent so the best the Riders could do was grab a couple of draft picks to give someone (Montreal) an advance negotiating window. Darian had the chance to stay but HE is choosing to leave. A great Rider for sure but he's chosen to turn the page and so should you. 2017 will be a mish mash at QB, in 2018 Franklin arrives as a FA and the re-build takes hold. Have patience Rider Nation.

i think this is the best move. I am sorry Rider fans but we have a tendency to hang onto players too long and then we live with a sub par season. Really, 4 Grey Cups in 100 years in a 9 tema league is really a glaring statistic.This is a business. It is unfortunate but that is the case. We must move and believe in the future and not rely on past glory. Think of what it did for some many years post Lancaster and Reed. Instead of moaning and bemonaing lets look to the future. We can only get better and if we are a winner next year, are you going to still complain? Of course you are....

Seat Improvement day is going to be awesome according to all the keyboard warriors. Looking forward to getting better seats and them watching all these people who gave theirs up start whining when they're sitting in the end zone.

The true reality which is not spoken is that no matter who is at QB for the Riders there is no way, no how they could ever compete with the Stamps for first place in 2017 (or 2018). The prospects of getting into third place in 2017 seemed far fetched to any observer of the situation. Therefore, it seems clear that the Rider brain trust is working on a five year plan to see the Riders complete with the Stamps for the crown by 2020. The fans just need to be patient.

The Riders got caught between a rock and a hard place. Last year Darian was not the Darian of old, just from his play. Probably not worth what he was aksing. Will probably do okay in Montreal, but we need to move on, as father time does with everyone.

Well, in the 2007 off season are GM traded our MVP, Grey Cup winning QB to Toronto and everyone thought he was nuts. In the 2008 season, some punk come off the bench...what was his name again? So I will reserve my decision until Labour Day at the minimum. Lots will happen to this team between then and now, and we have no idea what it may be. Relax...

Mark D, Byob,13th man, Curious Catholic Gent, Alex, Lori Hutchison Hunter, Mark D. If you haven't done it yet please immediately contact the Rider office,turn in your Rider jersey and cancel your season ticks. Seat Improvement week starts soon, I want to get the best seats possible to enjoy the Rider rebuild.Byob you call yourself a Durant supporter then proceed to kick him in the nuts! Can't imagine if you didn't support him.Apparently a lot of lives were ruined today in Rider Nation

Oh, sure. Let's just "be patient." Let's write off 2017 with our 'mish-mash' of QB's and hope things get better in 2018 all the while just waiting and hoping for the Stamps to start to decline. Great plan.

There are no '5 year plans' in the CFL. If Jones pitched a 5 year plan to Reynolds, he wouldn't have been hired. Reynolds brought Jones in to win every year and consistently compete with Calgary. At the end of 2017 we'll be two years in to this experiment and MIGHT have double digit wins to show for it.

The Riders are essentially an expansion team at this point. Starting from scratch in ALOT of key areas.

HAHAHA - this times 2"Everybody jumping off the bandwagon and wanting season ticket refunds don't ever come back! You guys are ridiculous! I hope the Rider Office keeps track of names asking for refunds and never allows them to buy even single tickets ever again. Let the man do his job. See what Jones can do come free agency and trades. If improving the rest of the team by not over-paying Durant is the plan then I'm all for it. Let the young guys compete, solidify a strong o-line, and see what they can do when they aren't getting knocked on their ass every play. A rebuild takes time, we are only one year in. Trust the system.

Good luck DD in Montreal. We will miss you. To the comment "greatest rider ever" - REALLY??Nope...George Reed hands down.

Did someone actually refer to Jones as Trump?? Give your head a shake.

Why would everybody fall off the bandwagon!? THIS IS YOUR TEAM! Support it through the highs and lows! If your loyalty means that much to you, then they don't need the negative nancy's at the game - stay home!

Ok Clay I'm calling you out. Look at doubles stats son. Open your eyes. Doubles is certainly one of the best qbs in rider history. He will continue to play at a high level this year somewhere else. The trade is fine with me for a multitude of reasons. Thanks again Darian for all you have contributed to rider nation.

97% of the comments via this blog site good comedic entertainment. Good gracious, what don't these silly prairie rubes not understand? Professional sports is a business where team players come and go based on performance not sentiment? 2013 GC was not won by Darian Durant himself as some seem to think, (not even close, anyone other qb could have handed off the rock and had the same end result), that game was won primarily by the extraordinary play that day of one Kory Sheets and a supporting cast of teammates as a whole. Knock it off with the stupid senti"mental" comments. The sun will rise tomorrow with a new day. Time to move on, he's gone!

Hey man guess u took me the wrong way. I said I was ok with this trade. I loved his heart(in the past) but not how he got rich for doing nothing in 3 years and expected more contractually going forward and didn't want to earn it any more. I wish him the best and you too anon.

Good luck, DARIAN! You will be missed by those of us that know the value of you to the team. It was pretty hard for you to play last year lying on your back, looking at the blue sky above! So long, for now!🏈🏈😢😥😰😭😪😓😡

With nothing left in his contract it wasn't worth much. Montreal beat the rush of free agency. If Durant was as good as we, in hearts of hearts want to remember him being, we would have won more games than not last year. A dominant quarterback will win, in spite of all of the obstacles he faces, see BC, Calgary, Edmonton. Yes he needs a supporting cast, but he should still win far more games than he did if he is a dominant quarterback. When we had a good line we did not dominate. Without that line we weren't even close. Despite all that, I did enjoy having Darian for our quarterback and I will always remember the 2013 WSF where he practically willed the Riders to victory (along with a cast of all star players.)

People relax, yes Darian was beloved in Saskatchewan but we have to move on... I reserve judgement until Labour Day. The cupboard is not as bare as most people think. Strengthen the offensive line and upgrade the Canadian talent. Those are the two biggest things to do this season... I like the idea of a new QB getting a start in Saskatchewan and if we are that concerned, there are a couple of veterans who can be brought in to help mentor the young QB's. Whoever starts at QB will have some excellent receivers to work with and if the O line is strengthened, the new QB should have the time to work things out.

I'm not going to lie to you... I was more dismayed when we let John Chick go last year then I am with releasing Darian. Darian had missed enough time over the past few years he wasn't a heart and soul, high motor guy like Chick was to the defence. Face it true fans, when Lancaster and Austin left Regina, the sun still rose in Regina... The same will happen now with the departure with Darian.... Although it's going to remain damn cold there!!

WELL I NEVER! NEVER! ... seen so much cry baby whining about a mediocre athlete. NEVER! He's gone... left on his own terms, didn't want to sign a contract that was fairly offered. Bye bye! Good ridence!

Yes DD did have a great WSF in 2013. But that seems to be the only moment of greatness that anyone can seem to remember. And that is the problem. Good, bad and mediocre QB's can have moments of greatness from time to time (remember when Marcus Crandell led the Stamps to a GC victory). Elite QB's do stuff like that on a regular basis, especially when the odds are against them. DD has been a good QB in this league. Elite? The numbers do not add up to that conclusion in any way.

Id be happy to take you through, the many, many amazing plays and games that DD produced anytime. The WSF in 13 keeps coming up in response to the slight against DD that Sheets broke a rushing record in that GC game, which somehow people (the DD haters mainly) use to diminish DD's role in the 13 GC win.

DD had the chance to sign the offer given. He's 34 and injury prone and not worth overpaying. Jones knows DD's value and wasn't bending. I give him the ultimate credit for having a plan and sticking with it.

BartHave you ever heard. "Stats are for losers"Only the press & some fans considered Durant as the ELITE. YES HE DID SOME GOOD THINGS, BUT ALSO MESSED UP A LOT.yes I wish him well,but we will survive very wellJones & company have a plan. TO START WINNING.CLAY

Yes clay I have have heard the saying stat are for losers. I never said DD was ELITE like you keep harping. But he is one of the best ever to play with the riders. I have watched hundreds of qbs play for the riders and DD is in the top 5 for sure. Lancaster and Austin may be better. Huff was pretty good. Am I missing Someone? Durante throwing accuracy was never great and he seemed slow to pick up reads. But I watch him improve from 08 to 13 and the Rider were winning. I am very clear eyed about what doubles was able to accomplish in spite of not being elite. I hope the Jones Era is as successful but I am not about to assume that it will be that is for sure. I had to stomach a lot of losing for the last 40 years. The Riders WILL need a "very good" qb to win.

Good grief people, this is what sports is, isn't it? Agree or disagree sports is all about cheering for your team regardless. It's about love and hate, happiness,anger,fear, hope,resentment and acceptance. I believe I have felt all of these emotions over the last 36 hrs.Thank you sports as if it wasn't for you this would have bean just another boring weekend. And to all the people that have commented good or bad, you are Rider Nation!